Southeastern Gazette, 30 August 1853.

CAPEL.

An inquest was held at the "Red Cow" beerhouse, Capel, on Monday, before H. D. Wildes, Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of Michael Sheen, aged twelve years, who was found dead in bed in a hop house belonging to Mr. Childrens, farmer, of Capel, on the morning of the previous Saturday.

Michael Sheen deposed that he worked for Mr. Childrens. He slept in the same bed with his son, who went to bed at about eight o'clock on Friday night, complaining of having a bad head ache; witness awoke early on Saturday morning, and found his son dead; he was twelve years old. He had some bread for dinner and some cold milk to drink.

Mr. Edwin, surgeon, Pembury, deposed that he was sent for on Saturday to go to Mr. Childrens’ farm, and got there about twelve o’clock, when deceased appeared to have been dead some hours. Had made a post mortem examination of the body, and his opinion was the boy died of cramp or spasmodic affection of the stomach, which would produce faintness and general collapse, which if unattended to would cause death. The stomach was empty, with the exception of some gooseberry husks.

Verdict, "Died from natural causes."